A new study published by the University of Pennsylvania has found that streets in denser cities and towns are safer than suburban roads, writes Ryan Briggs for PlanPhilly.
The study looked at PennDOT’s records of car accidents from 2010 to 2014 for the five-county region and compared them with population data, different road types, and other factors.
The results showed that the region’s densest parts, such as Philadelphia or suburban town centers, had lower accident rates than lower-density areas. However, some of the difference in the crash rates can be attributed to slower traffic speeds in denser areas.
The study also found that suburban roads in sprawling areas are safer for pedestrians. However, densely populated areas in the suburbs along with some outlying Philadelphia neighborhoods had a higher rate of vehicle-pedestrian collisions than more sparsely populated areas.
The culprit – according to Erick Guerra, co-author and assistant professor of urban planning at Penn – is the type of roads that have replaced a number of the older main streets. These multi-lane arterial “stroads” aim to speed up traffic through densely populated areas.
“A more conservative roadway is much safer,” said Guerra. “Smaller, fewer lanes, lower speeds.”
Read more about the study at PlanPhilly here.
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